The Labor Coalition does not endorse any candidates, and the inclusion of these questionnaire responses to our website should not be taken as an endorsement.
The Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission have made significant progress on providing living wages for municipal workers, including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers. How do you propose we achieve similar wage and benefit gains for workers throughout our community?
Gigi Simmons (District 1): “Recently, the city commission did include contract employees under the living wage ordinance (applicable for new or renewed contracts). We are committed to addressing the inequities in our community in all forms including wage(s).”
What do you envision as the role of other large local employers in Gainesville in helping to improve wages, benefit workers, and reduce inequalities? How have/would you encourage these large local employers to address these issues?
Simmons: “Many people who live in District 1 are employed by the University of Florida, Alachua County Schools and other major employers. I believe an increase in minimum wage will combat and help to reduce economic inequalities within our community. I will continue to work with employers to create economic opportunities in District 1 such as healthcare services and programing/education that will deliver and inspire growth in East Gainesville. High paying and living wage jobs in the medical profession can contribute to economic growth stimulation and empowerment within our community. I envision partnerships with our local employers and fostering relationships that will be sustainable for years to come.”
If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage and how do you define a living wage? If you do not: how are you making an effort to do so? [If you are not an employer, “N/A” is an acceptable answer.]
Simmons: N/A
The City of Gainesville recently passed a comprehensive rental housing ordinance. What will you do to see that this ordinance is properly implemented and what are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe affordable housing in our community?
Simmons: “I had the pleasure of serving on the rental house subcommittee. I, like my colleagues were extremely engaged and committed to the creation and passage of this ordinance. In addition, to the ordinance the commission has just approved an RFP for solicitation of a Community Land Trust (CLT). This is one way to address affordable housing and something I’ve advocated for since the beginning (and before) my initial term. I would also like to consider establishing an official city registrar to begin documenting every single vacant, abandoned, or neglected home in East Gainesville and consider partnerships with private organizations to create a taskforce in assessing the property values of the aforementioned vacant, abandoned, and neglected homes. Draw on economic development programs such as the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area to offer loans and tax credits for homeowners as an incentive to renovate their homes and boost property value. Provide direct rental assistance to tenants struggling to pay rent through the continuation and expansion of the GNV CARES Program. Continue to lobby our state representatives not to sweep the Sadoski fund. Continue to help fund the weatherization program to ensure that our resident’s homes are energy efficient.”
Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer-funded projects?
Simmons: “Yes, I support this and a motion passed in favor, by the City Commission to move forward with this measure!”
Do you support offering free RTS bus passes for K-12 students and/or making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it but aren’t affiliated with UF?
Simmons: “Yes. Currently we offer the “First Mile, Last Mile,” a free bus service for residents in East Gainesville. Due to its, success expanded routes are being offered in high demand areas. In addition to First Mile Last Mile, I support fareless bus service for our senior citizens. The department of Mobility is analyzing our public transit system and looking at improvements, including frequent service routes that could, for example, run every 15 minutes. Making buses easier to use with more rapid service which would benefit the people in my district.”
What would you do to advance healthcare outcomes in black and brown communities as well as racial equity overall in our community?
Simmons: “COVID-19 has truly unmasked the inequities in healthcare in our black and brown communities. I currently lead the Health Equity and Access Advisory Group. Our goal is to address the lack of health care options in East Gainesville. Because of this group’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to the needs of the residents in District One we were able to take our findings and recommendations to the Gainesville City Commission for discussion and action. As I continue to work in this capacity as a commissioner, I will continue to partner and fight for equal healthcare and programming for East Gainesville residents.”
What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?
Simmons: “The City of Gainesville should continue to partner with Working Food, UF and the Health Department to research our local production and distribution systems to identify where deficiencies exist. Also, we should recognize that many children and families get nutritious food from the school system and work to provide city community centers as distribution sites.”
What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, helping to ensure better access to quality housing, etc.)?
Simmons:“I will discuss and work with members of UF in supporting the continuation of prioritizing employees through a living wage, better development patterns to reduce costly sprawl, protecting our environment through wastewater treatment systems like Sweetwater and advocating for connecting more septic tanks to sewer.”
What is GPD doing to keep undocumented people out of jail, where they will be subject to ICE detention? For instance, not arresting people for lack of driver’s license up to three times and instead issuing a civil citation is an alternative that is permissible by law.
Simmons: “Appropriate expansion of the option to use civil citation to keep people from entering the criminal court system will help our undocumented neighbors, as well as address some of the racial inequities in our judicial system.”
The Alachua County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) application portal opens tomorrow, Monday, March 15th at 12:00pm
Join the Just Health Care Committee for our first meeting of 2021!
Please join the ACLC in a candidate forum and get to know your local candidates running for the Gainesville City Commission! The forum will take place on Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:00pm via Zoom.